Methods, systems, and computer program products for targeting advertising to customers of content service providers

Abstract

Methods, systems and computer program products for targeting advertising to customers requesting content from a service provider are provided. Upon receiving a request for content from a customer of a service provider, advertising to be delivered with the requested content is selected. The requested content and selected advertising are delivered to the customer and feedback is obtained from the customer regarding the selected advertising. A customer preference knowledge base is built/maintained for use in selecting advertising to be delivered with subsequently requested content.

1 . A method of targeting advertising to customers requesting content from a service provider, comprising:
 receiving a request for content from a customer;   selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content;   delivering the requested content and selected advertising to the customer;   obtaining feedback from the customer regarding the selected advertising; and   building a customer preference knowledge base for use in selecting advertising to be delivered with subsequently requested content.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer request is generated in whole or in part via a set top box. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the customer request is generated in whole or in part via a web site. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein content comprises audio content, video content, text content, gaming content, interactive content, and/or application content. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises selecting advertising based upon information about the customer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises selecting advertising based upon advertising preferences of the customer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises selecting advertising based upon advertising preferences of other customers that are similar to the customer. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises identifying a customer group that the customer is a member of and selecting advertising targeted to the identified customer group. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises:
 determining a position of the requested content on a content demand curve, wherein the content demand curve is divided into a plurality of discrete content groups, and wherein advertising is associated with each content group; and   selecting advertising that is associated with a content group at the position of the requested content on the content demand curve.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein delivering advertising comprises obtaining the selected advertising from a third party. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining feedback from the customer comprises one or more of the following: allowing the customer to request delivery of alternative advertising, allowing the customer to indicate whether or not they like or dislike the delivered advertising, and allowing the customer to indicate preferred advertising type. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product for targeting advertising to customers requesting content from a service provider, comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         13 . A method of targeting advertising to customers requesting content from a service provider, comprising:
 receiving a request for content from a customer;   selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content;   delivering the requested content and selected advertising to the customer; and   obtaining feedback from the customer regarding the selected advertising, including allowing the customer to request delivery of alternative advertising.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises selecting advertising based upon one or more of the following: information about the customer, advertising preferences of the customer, and/or advertising preferences of other customers that are similar to the customer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises identifying a customer group that the customer is a member of and selecting advertising targeted to the identified customer group. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein selecting advertising to be delivered with the requested content comprises:
 determining a position of the requested content on a content demand curve, wherein the content demand curve is divided into a plurality of discrete content groups, and wherein advertising is associated with each content group; and   selecting advertising that is associated with a content group at the position of the requested content on the content demand curve.   
     
     
         17 . A computer program product for targeting advertising to customers requesting content from a service provider, comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code being configured to carry out the method of  claim 13 .   
     
     
         18 . A system for targeting advertising to customers requesting content from a service provider, comprising:
 a server that receives a request for content from a customer;   an ad selector that selects advertising to be delivered with the requested content;   a feedback collector that obtains feedback from the customer regarding the selected advertising; and   a customer preference knowledgebase in communication with the feedback collector and ad selector for use in selecting advertising to be delivered with subsequently requested content;   wherein the server is configured to deliver the requested content and selected advertising to the customer.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising an ad database from which the ad selector selects advertising. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the ad selector is configured to select advertising based upon one or more of the following: information about the customer, advertising preferences of the customer, and/or advertising preferences of other customers that are similar to the customer.